John Kennedy’s Celtic will be looking to put derby disappointment behind them with a win in Aberdeen tomorrow night.
Despite having nothing to play for, the Hoops have to show a reaction after a woefully executed performance at Ibrox last week ending in defeat [BBC Sport].
Positionally, Celtic uncovered particular troubles within the left-back vicinity.
In the first half, the starting Diego Laxalt struggled to fend off the attentions of adversaries Joe Aribo and Nathan Patterson. Caught out of frame for both goals, the Uruguayan was deservedly hooked at the half-time interval. Replaced by Greg Taylor, the Scot faired considerably better on the left-hand side of defence.
Looking ahead to Pittodrie, Kennedy must seek to reinstate Taylor to the starting line-up owing to his well-rounded attributes.
Taylor has performed well within his attacking and defensive responsibilities this season
In terms of his output going forward, the 23-year-old has been reasonably productive in 2020/21. Making 28 appearances, he has notched seven assists and a solitary goal [Transfermarkt]. This has also taken him to joint-second in the Celtic assist charts [Transfermarkt].
Intriguingly, his ability to progress the ball into promising spaces goes under the radar. Averaging 1.5 key passes per 90 minutes, Taylor has shown a football intelligence that has benefitted the Hoops chance creation [WhoScored]. These qualities could be of use away to Aberdeen, as they will be compact and difficult to break down.
As per his duty as a defender, the Scotland internationalist has illustrated his sturdy nature over the course of the campaign. Rarely beaten by his opposite number in a one on one, he has managed around 1.5 tackles every fixture [WhoScored].
Level-headed at the back, Taylor has helped Celtic to keep 14 clean sheets from his aforementioned 28 outings [Transfermarkt].
Solidity will be required on Wednesday, as the Celts face a rejuvenated Dons side buoyed by the arrival of their new manager Stephen Glass [Sky Sports].
Taylor should be a serious candidate to start in Aberdeenshire, as Celtic look to record a much-needed victory.
In other news, Celtic apparently hold the key to a potential Atlantic League.
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